Electrical Connector Shell Locking Arms for Easy FPC Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical connectors for flat circuit devices, such as flexible printed circuit boards, face challenges in efficiently releasing the inserted devices without mechanical hindrance and ensuring secure engagement.
Innovation Solution
The electrical connector design features a metallic shell with a top plate and connecting part that includes actuating arms to move and disengage locking arms from notches on the circuit device, allowing for easy release and secure engagement through a resilient mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If locking arms are separately attached to the insulative housing, then the locking mechanism can be operated independently, but the device complexity increases and mechanical interference occurs during insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The locking arms are integrated into the metallic shell as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate attachment to the insulative housing. The metallic shell's connecting part forms a single integrated component that reduces structural complexity while maintaining independent locking functionality through the resilient nature of the integrated arms
2Device complexity
If locking arms are integrated into the metallic shell, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to independently operate the locking mechanism is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking arms are designed with resilient properties that allow them to dynamically respond to actuating forces. When the actuating arms are pressed, the resilient locking arms can independently deflect and disengage from the notches, providing independent operation capability within the integrated metallic shell structure
3Productivity
If actuating arms are added to the top plate, then the locking arms can be released efficiently, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating arms serve as intermediary elements that transfer the user's pressing force to the locking arms. These arms provide a mechanical leverage mechanism that efficiently transmits force to disengage the locking arms from the notches, achieving rapid release without requiring complex additional mechanisms
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables efficient and secure connection and disconnection of flat circuit devices by allowing easy withdrawal and secure engagement, minimizing mechanical interference during insertion and ensuring reliable contact.
Implementation Method 1
the top plate is movable about the upper end of the connecting part to actuate the pair of locking arms by the pair of actuating arms
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical connector includes: an insulative housing having a slot; plural contacts secured in the insulative housing and exposed to the slot; and a metallic shell mounted to the insulative housing and having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a connecting part connected to the top plate at an upper end thereof and connected to the bottom plate at a lower end thereof, wherein the top plate has a pair of actuating arms and the connecting part has a pair of locking arms, and the top plate is movable about the upper end of the connecting part to actuate the pair of locking arms by the pair of actuating arms.